A Long Road From Kosovo to Kurdistan By: Pepe Escobar | Asia Times The embrace by Washington of Kosovo's declaration of independence has less to do with democracy than with hard-nosed pragmatism. The US's biggest foreign military base since the Vietnam War -- Camp Bondsteel -- is in Kosovo, and the region will be home to a US$1.1 billion pipeline that will get oil from the Caspian Sea ultimately to refineries in the US.

Wider Black Sea: Concept and Reality By: Haroutiun Khachatrian | ISN Security Watch As the US and EU promote the concept of a new 'Wider Black Sea' geopolitical region, economics may be the key to common identity and security.

The Anticipated Regional War Will Not Take Place By: Huda al Husseini | Asharq AlawsatIn the wake of the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, the threat of “open war” that accompanied it has surpassed the “battlefield” and we are now witnessing a race between the desire to bypass the acute embarrassment felt by Syria, Iran and Hezbollah on the one hand and the attempt to slip away on the other, especially on the part of Hezbollah and Iran

Iranian official reports record oil revenuesIran’s oil revenues reached a record $62bn for the first 11 months of this Iranian year - an increase of 31 per cent over the same period the previous year, according to a senior Iranian oil official.

Waiter, there's a fly in my raki!Compensation culture is taking hold in Turkey, where some say it's a progressive step for consumers' rights in a country where problems are generally sorted out far from the embarrassment of courtrooms. Consider Turkey's most famous plaintiff, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has lodged 71 cases in the past three years and won a fist-full of money. - Fazile Zahir

For Obama, a Taste of What a Long Battle HoldsThe shifting tone among Republicans and their allies in recent days offers a glimpse of the party’s playbook as it adapts to the prospect that it will be running against Senator Barack Obama

DAVID BROOKS Remembering the Mentor William F. Buckley Jr.’s greatest talent was friendship, and his second great talent was leadership.

In Defense of Lobbying By Charles Krauthammer Everyone knows the First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly. How many remember that, in addition, the First Amendment protects a fifth freedom -- to lobby?

Personality Matters By Eugene Robinson If you're among those who believe the news media have focused too much on the presidential horse race and the personalities of the candidates -- and not enough on vital issues of state -- let me submit that you're wrong.

The Anticipated Regional War Will Not Take Place By: Huda al Husseini | Asharq AlawsatIn the wake of the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, the threat of “open war” that accompanied it has surpassed the “battlefield” and we are now witnessing a race between the desire to bypass the acute embarrassment felt by Syria, Iran and Hezbollah on the one hand and the attempt to slip away on the other, especially on the part of Hezbollah and Iran

Missing the Point in Lebanon's Stalemate By: Michael Young | The Daily Star Rarely a day goes by without someone writing an article protesting against the incapacity of Lebanese politicians to come to an agreement on the future of their country. Why can't they just all get along? That's the lament running through these principled and naive pleas.

Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Economist Intelligence Unit looks at suspicions over mainly Arab oil-state sovereign wealth funds, noting the political backlash the funds have drawn in the west.

Cuba After Fidel By: Duncan Currie | The Weekly StandardIn January 1959, during the early days of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro declared, "Behind me come others more radical than me." It was a reference to the hardcore Stalinists such as his younger brother, Raúl, and also a warning of what might ensue should Fidel be assassinated

Same Old Guard By: Marifeli Perez-Stable | Miami HeraldWhat happened in Havana on Sunday reminded me of Moscow in the early 1980s. After Leonid Brezhnev's passing, two old men -- first, the more open-minded Yuri Andropov, then the mummified Konstantin Chernenko -- ruled the Soviet Union.

Al Hayat Kuwait, Lebanon and the Damascus Summit!Hassan Haydar - Usually, Arab summits have two sessions: one is an opening session for speeches, and the second is a concluding session, whereby resolutions and stances are announced. The formulas, settlements and actual negotiations about a given issue are taken up by foreign ministers in bilateral or multilateral deliberations that either precede or accompany the summit.

Iraq Provincial Law Rejected By: Borzou Daragahi | Los Angeles TimesIraq's presidential council Wednesday rejected a law on the powers of local government that was approved by parliament and touted by the Bush administration as a sign of reconciliation between the country's ethnic and religious groups.

Jordan Times In an editorial, Michael Jansen writes that Turkey’s major military offensive in northern Iraq has put the U.S. in an awkward position as the country’s occupier and, allegedly, defender of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Knocking on haven's doorIn the worldwide migration pattern, in which poor people from politically unstable countries migrate to democratic, capitalist ones, Israel falls into the latter category

Toward true dialogue Madeleine K. AlbrightIt is a mistake to conceive of the Mideast as divided between people who do no wrong and those who do no right; between moderates and extremists, secular and religious, evil and good

Gates Says U.S. Isn't Trying to Outmaneuver China By: Peter Spiegel | Los Angeles Times Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrapped up a six-day visit to three regional democracies Wednesday, working to strengthen ties and upgrade the militaries of all three, which have increasingly complex relationships with a burgeoning China

U.S. and India to Strengthen Security Ties By: Mark Mazzetti and Somini Sengupta | The New York TimesWith a landmark nuclear energy pact between the United States and India stalled, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Wednesday that the nations would nonetheless strengthen their security ties as India looked to embark on a closer — and still contentious — level of military cooperation with the United States.

Asian Security: A report from a Danish think-tank examines the role regional bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) play in addressing regional security concerns. You can download the report here.

Indonesia: A report from the International Crisis Group examines the influential media arm of the Indonesian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Japan's Aid Policy: Doing Less With Less By: David Pilling | Financial TimesFor a chequebook diplomat, Japan’s cheque does not carry the punch it used to. Tokyo, the world’s mightiest aid donor as recently as 2001, has been slipping alarmingly down the league tables

In Northwestern Pakistan, Where Militants Rule By: Mark Sappenfield | The Christian Science MonitorEvery so often, the world witnesses the malice that lives in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt – bombings in London and Madrid and the plot to blow up airplanes over the Atlantic, all had ties to terrorists there.

The World Is Changing; NATO Needs a New Strategy By: Henk Van den Breemen, Peter Inge and Jacques Lanxade | The Daily Star The North Atlantic Treaty Organization needs a new strategy. We, five former defense chiefs of staff, recently published a booklet containing proposals for such a new strategy, as well as a comprehensive agenda for change.

WSJ George Weigel, of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, in response to a recent article by the former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, suggests ten ways for Americans to respect Europe again.

If Europe Could Vote By: Ulf Gartzke | The Weekly StandardEuropeans, like much of the rest of the world for that matter, are following the U.S. presidential election campaign very closely. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and even Mike Huckabee have all pretty much become household names across Europe

Five former defense chiefs of staff contribute an op-ed in which they say NATO needs a new strategy, and present what they call a comprehensive agenda for change.

EU Unity To Be Tested Over U.S. Visa-Free Regime By: Renata Goldirova | EU Observer EU interior ministers are gathering in Brussels for what is likely to be a heated battle over how the European Union should react to new US travel security demands, with member states split between those who enjoy visa-free travel to the United States and those who do not.

France-Europe:Deutsche-Welle reports that French President Sarkozy has irked some of his fellow European leaders through “go-it-alone” policies.

The Economist SerbiaThe road of discontent For now Serbia remains torn about whether to pursue its European vocation—but it is likely to return to it eventually

Americans like the idea (though not always the reality) of risk more than comfortable Europeans do. To Russians, both lots seem hyper-cautious wimps

Europe's Time to Choose By: Europe's Time to Choose | The Washington Times During the past two centuries, three major European continental nations have tried to impose their will on the rest of the continent, indeed, on the globe. First France in the early 19th century, then Germany in the first half of the 20th century, and finally Russia.

Chechnya and the north CaucasusAnd they call it peace Vladimir Putin's presidency began in Chechnya; the region is restive as it ends

Wider Black Sea: Concept and Reality By: Haroutiun Khachatrian | ISN Security Watch As the US and EU promote the concept of a new 'Wider Black Sea' geopolitical region, economics may be the key to common identity and security.

Dmitry Medvedev is "creating his own public identity according to a choreographed script," C.J. Chivers reports for the New York Times

Washington Times Management reshuffle?By Ariel Cohen Vladimir Putin might be the prime minister in a President Medvedev administration, but he will be the senior figure in terms of political capital and the execution of government policy.

Uzbekistan and the EU's 'Engagement' Policy By: Gulnoza Saidazimova | Radio Free EuropeSome believe that international pressure has prompted the release of opponents of the Uzbekistan government from prison, while others believe it's 'just window dressing.'

Iranian official reports record oil revenues Iran’s oil revenues reached a record $62bn for the first 11 months of this Iranian year - an increase of 31 per cent over the same period the previous year, according to a senior Iranian oil official.

Gaza air strikes follow Hamas rocket attack Israel stepped up air strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing five Palestinian gunmen after the first death in Israel in nine months from a rocket attack launched from the Hamas-controlled territory

‘Nimbyism’ blamed for Italy’s woes Both main Italian political parties are promising in their election campaigns to tackle the ‘not in my backyard’ culture that is blamed in large part for the country’s economic decline and lack of infrastructure

Falling jobless data signal German strength A steep fall in unemployment suggests a positive outlook among mid-size businesses, just as a wave of job cuts at large companies raises concerns that the labour market recovery could soon peak

Right sows doubt among waverers Spain’s opposition Popular party hopes to win the general election with a campaign strategy aimed at persuading Socialist sympathisers to abstain from voting

Clinton on course to raise $35m Hillary Clinton’s advisers said she was on course to raise $35m in February, the highest monthly total of her presidential campaign and more than double her total for January

War and Peace, the Army Way By: Rosa Brooks | Los Angeles TimesThis week, the Army released a new version of FM 3-0, the Army Field Manual on Operations. The first revision since 9/11, it offers what the Army -- which is not an institution prone to exaggeration -- calls "a revolutionary departure from past doctrine."

The Fading Jihadists By: David Ignatius | The Washington PostPoliticians who talk about the terrorism threat -- and it's already clear that this will be a polarizing issue in the 2008 campaign -- should be required to read a new book by a former CIA officer named Marc Sageman.

Analysis: New cyber chief faces Hill anger(UPI) -- The new job of Scott Charbo, the man President Bush has picked to head up the protection of U.S. computer networks, involves countering threats from Russian hackers, Chinese cyber spies and Internet Jihadis. But perhaps his most immediately dangerous adversary is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

By Jed Babbin Mr. McCain has married himself to the troop surge, which Gen. David Petraeus is leading magnificently. But what happens afterward?

Feature: Coalition, al-Qaida set stage(UPI) -- The U.S. and Iraqi military campaign to route al-Qaida terrorists from their last urban stronghold is in motion, with troops fanning out to new combat operations posts.

Should diaspora Jews have a say in the political negotiations about Jerusalem?Shmuel Rosner

The Global Poor Will Suffer the Worst Ethanol Hangover By: Henry I. Miller | World Politics ReviewThe headlong rush in many parts of the world to replace oil with biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) illustrates how the best of intentions can run afoul of the law of unintended consequences.

Faith and toleranceTHE PEW Forum on Religion and Public Life released this week the most comprehensive survey of the American religious landscape ever conducted. We can now say, with reasonable certainty, that almost half of Americans switch religious affiliation in the course of their lives and that only slightly more than half (51.3 percent) identify themselves as Protestants. (By Alan Wolfe, Boston Globe)

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John Rawls argued that public reason cannot be based on the “comprehensive accounts” of reality religion gives us. Martha Nussbaum agrees... more»

It’s not just fads and fashions in the likes of shoes or music that spread through social networks. There are also states of mind – happiness, loneliness, altriusm... more»

A Great Leap ForwardBy CHRIS TURNEY Now that we’re in the 21st century, and time is measured according to oscillations of vaporized atoms, why do we still need something as oddly quaint as leap year?

The destiny of species chronicled on the WebThe Internet-based Encyclopedia of Life is an exciting effort to chronicle the names of and facts about the planet's 1.8 million known species, as well as species that will be discovered.

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